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‘Growing’ Solid Science

Rosenstiel School Faculty Members Receive Awards to Develop Scientific Collaborations Here and Abroad

Virginia Key, FL —
Two assistant professors from
the Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at the
University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and
Atmospheric Science, Drs. Paquita Zuidema and Lisa Beal, have
been granted funding as part of the first-ever “You
Choose” Leadership Awards designed to help establish
and encourage collaborations and exchanges between scientists,
especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups.
The awards are sponsored by the University of Miami’s
NSF-ADVANCE funded Scientists and Engineers Expanding Diversity
and Success (SEEDS) program.

Zuidema asserts that effective communication is essential is
every field, and underrepresented groups are often particularly
reluctant to ask for help in upgrading such skills. Despite the
importance of proficient writing skills, within traditional
science curricula, this is not often emphasized. Zuidema
intends to use her funding to host a day-long career skills
course on writing, hosted by renowned expert and Assistant
Director for Scientific and Technical Writing at Princeton
University, Dr. Judith Swan. The goal is to help early-career
scientists learn how to bridge the gap between the science and
writing, and to ‘resensitize’ more mature scientists,
for a more conscious approach to writing.

As an international expert on the Agulhas Current system
– likened to the Gulf Stream, but flowing along the east
coast of South Africa – Beal is poised to gain
international standing among oceanographers and climatologists
alike. Her proposal to conduct a Southwest Indian Ocean
community workshop in Kiel, Germany, will bring together the
diverse international community of scientists who conduct
research in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Accordingly, the
workshop will form the basis of a new large-scale proposal in
the climate change arena, capable of establishing a presence
for these researchers in the Global Ocean Observing System
(GOOS), while also providing crucial collaboration and exchange
of ideas between scientists. Beal’s role as program
facilitator will help to gain greater visibility for her own
research, while creating opportunities for high profile
collaborations. The workshop, and her role in it, will be a
major leadership opportunity in her career.

Award winners were chosen based on the originality of their
proposals and the potential impact of their scientific goals,
both individual and community-based. SEEDS’ You Choose
Leadership Awards were also given to: Traci Ardren, associate
professor of Anthropology; Eunji Lim, assistant professor of
Industrial Engineering; Joy Lincoln, assistant professor of
Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology; and Tulay Koru-Sengul,
assistant professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

The goal of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF)
ADVANCE program is to increase the representation and
advancement of women in academic science and engineering
careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more
diverse science and engineering workforce. ADVANCE encourages
institutions of higher education and the broader science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) community,
including professional societies and other STEM-related
not-for-profit organizations, to address various aspects of
STEM academic culture and institutional structure that may
differentially affect women faculty and academic
administrators.

About the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel SchoolFounded in the 1940’s, the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel
School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one
of the world’s premier marine and atmospheric research
institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the
Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better
understand the planet, participating in the establishment of
environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of
society and quality of life. For more information, please
visitwww.rsmas.miami.edu